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Afghan Hound World Congress 2000
Report by Dr James Jackson
Yabat el Chilab Afghan Hounds (South Africa)
Email: bwana@iafrica.comAFFIES DOWN UNDER
Personal recollections of the 4th World Afghan Hound Congress, Sydney Australia, April 2000 by James Jackson Yabat El Chilab Afghan Hounds.
Kookaburras chortling in the distance, a faint breeze blowing through the eucalyptus trees, the sun gently warming from a Southern sky. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the Australasian air. I hone my senses to the smell and sounds of a strange continent and begin to drift into a blissful and relaxed sleep.
A distant sound disturbs my sleep - the homely sounds of afghan hounds voicing their protest at being ignored for mere seconds. I think to myself " I have traveled all this way and could just as well be at a dog show in Gauteng"! Surrounded by familiar sounds and faces, even the eucalyptus trees are the same as those back home.
The 4th Afghan Hound World Congress started off with the welcoming party the Wednesday evening. We caught up with old friends and made new acquaintances .It was a good start to what proved to be a worthwhile experience.
The 12th National Specialty was sent on its way with a spectacular opening ceremony. Aboriginal dances, the National Anthem of Australia performed by a school choir, Parade of the Judge, Mr. Roberto Posa of Switzerland, and all the Stewards and Committee Members of the Specialty. The ceremony ended with a flurry of yellow balloons filling the blue Australian sky and bearing the logo of the main show sponsors, Pal. Well over 200 entries, an efficient team of organisers and a beautifully presented showring, made this a memorable part of the Congress week.
Dog judging took all of the first day and Bitch judging and Best in show and challenges, the second. Am.&Aust.Ch. NAZIRAS COLD DAYS NIGHT(imp.USA) and Swd., NZ & Aust. Ch. KINGSLEAGH BLUE STAR (imp.Swed) were, respectively, deserved winners of Best in Show and Runner up to Best in Show. The presentation of the exhibits was professional and the coats breathtaking. The exhibits were of a high standard and a surprising dominance of dark and brindle colours noted. American influence was strongly evident. All in all a notable celebration of the grace and beauty of our beloved breed. A Gala dinner that evening followed by the presentations ended a memorable Specialty Show.
A number of excellent papers were presented at the Congress proper, over the weekend. The presentations, which caught my attention, were those on movement presented by Dr.A.Duane Butherus phD of Ararat Afghans USA and Dr. Paul Hewitt of Khandu Afghans Australia. Both speakers gave thought-provoking information from totally different perspectives.
The lectures on Temperament and Dog Behaviour by Robert Holmes BVM&S(Ed), phD, Animal Behaviour (Bristol), MRCVS, FACVSc and on Raising Optimum Show Ring Candidates by Craig A. Murray an Internationally certified specialist dog trainer were equally well received.
Dr. Espen Eng of Jets Greyhounds Norway gave us insight into the Lost Cousins of the Afghan hound, in his interesting lecture on the Eastern Tazi, Khalag and Taigan. Another well-presented talk was given by Dr. Robert Zammitt BVSc ,Chairman Hereditary Disease Committee RNSWCC on Hereditary Diseases - " A Myth or not in my backyard".
Those that attended enjoyed the outdoor workshop on breed characteristics and Judging. Unfortunately time was limited and the lectures on Colour Genetics rather shortened and I would have liked to obtain more information form the speakers who had to rush their presentations - a pity!
Julie Roche and Barb Bornstein gave a stunning visual and practical demonstration on the difference varying coat patterns can make to a dog's appearance. Another interesting talk was by Lynette Schelling-Watson on wild dog traits in our domestic Afghan using the Australian dingo as a reference.
The Congress was ended with Pamela Bennett of Doyen Kennels Australia promoting the idea of the formation of an International Confederation of Afghan Hound Fanciers. This is a brave notion, which, if it does materialise, would be an extremely beneficial entity to all Afghan hound breeders, enthusiasts and hopefully the breed itself worldwide. The exciting new Pedigree Plus computer programme was also launched at the congress - a very versatile programme allowing you to build your own pedigrees as well as including photos and video clips of dogs and creating test programmes and determining ancestral influence on your dogs pedigree. The vision is to create a global Afghan Hound Database. The various representing countries clubs were issued with the programmes the idea being to collect data for the global database. Pedigree plus can be visited at http://www.pedigreeplus.com/
Also worth a visit is the congress website where most of the papers presented at the congress can be seen. http://www.afghanhoundsoz.com.au/Syd-2000-doc1.html
Sunday evening we were treated to a bush barbeque- with plates piled high with skewered grilled meats, marinated chicken, bbq ribs and salads galore we were entertained till the small hours by a mesmerising two man band playing fiddle banjo guitar didgeridoo and a host of other musical paraphernalia. There was square dancing, poem recitals and the inevitable Waltzing Matilda.
The following Tuesday we were treated again to the sight of the wonderful Australian Afghan Hounds at the Afghan Hound Club of New South Wales 72nd Specialty Show judged by Lynn Mercer of Fox Run Afghans USA. Gr.Ch Gengala Supertramp as Best in Show and Gr.Ch Kjavu Air Jordan were the worthy winners.
Farewells and swapping of addresses all round . We truly enjoyed our trip. I would like to thank Paul Briza the Congress Chairman and his entire committee for their remarkable achievement in hosting the Congress as well as the committees of the respective Specialties, the Australian Afghan Hound Exhibitors for their wonderful hounds and the Australian people for their hospitality.
A final note: The professionalism of Afghan hound showing has led us to present our hounds in a manner which enhances their beauty but to what extreme? in the words of Barb Bornstein USA ( I stand under correction here). "Let them be puppies while they are growing up". It is a sad reality that more and more we are seeing afghan hounds trimmed and shaped and saddled out before they reach the age of 18 months. I love my pups' whiskers and monkey faces - that is all a part of what afghan hounds are about. Let us enhance their beauty, not alter it, and above all let us not loose sight of our breed's unique houndy characteristics that make of it the Afghan Hound the true King of Dogs.
Dr James Jackson
Yabat el Chilab Afghan Hounds (South Africa)
Email: bwana@iafrica.com
Congress 2000 Main Page